Giving up the dummy

Hi Nicola,
I tackled this one wee while back with my daughter who was also really attatched to her dummy.
I posted under the forum heading 'Kicking the habit' (which I have bumped up for you) and got some really good ideas from the Mums on here.
For Ella, in the end we just threw the dummy away in front of her saying 'Now that you're a big girl, you don't need a dummy, do you?' and when she asked for it at night told her 'Its gone in the bin, remember? You don't need it now because you're a big girl.' It took about 3 nights and she hasn't wanted it at night since.

The other night, watching one of the nanny shows I saw another great idea. They told the little girl that they were going to send all of her dummys away with the dummy fairy, for new little babies who needed them. And that in return the dummy fairy would leave her a surprise. They put all the dummys in a bag and tied it in the tree in the back yard that evening , and in the morning the 'dummy fairy' had replaced them with a new doll. Everytime she asked for her dummy after that they just reminded her where her doll came from.
I hope these or the ideas in the other post help, good luck with getting rid of the dummy!

We did a bit of a varient on the dummy Fairy thing- we got her to post her dummy to a baby that needed it repeating our catch phrase 'dummies are for babies and you're a big girl now'. She put it out the letter box (Dad distracted her and Mum whipped it away) and just reminded her about it whenever she asked for it. She got a special girl sticker in the morning that she got to wear all day and its now been 3 1/2 weeks since shes had it. The first couple of nights she was wakeful (so its a good idea to start on a Friday night so you have the weekend) but she soon got used to it. She now has a little hardcover book she likes to sleep with as thats what we used to distract her when she got upset about not having it. HTH!!

I heard of a 2yo whose mum gave her the "you're a big girl" speech and then they chopped it up and put it in the rubbish bin. She cried a bit the first night but no probs after then. All the best! If your girl doesn't have something else like a doll or blankie I would look at swapping.

My son was attached to his dummy very much as well. I always tried to just keep it for bedtimes, but if he found one lying around the house (I also had 2 or 3 at a time) he would put it in his mouth while he played or watched t.v. I daren't try take it out either!

Earlier on this year (he was about 2 ½ yrs old) it was getting more & more of a nuisance as they kept on getting lost, so I would always be buying them. But one day I decided to just see what would happen if there weren't any at all & how he would react. I simply told him they were lost when he asked for it when he went to go to bed. I wouldn't make a big deal of it, but in a soft tone said "it's lost honey, now go to sleep" tuck him in & leave the room. I was really surprised at his reaction, he went off to sleep no hassle! He asked for it for a few days & I would tell him again it was lost in a soft tone & would change the subject or turn my back so there wouldn't be any chance for him to perform.

We haven't looked back since!

I must say it seems all us mums start to freak out with the thought of getting rid of their precious comforter, but I think we worry way to much & the children are fine with it being taken away. I had heard many a stories as to how to get rid of it, but sometimes it's the truth that's best.

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Edited by Italiah

wow nicola! sounds like you have done well and what a good wee girl you have.... hope it keeps on going great. gives me more motivation and encouragment to start on my girl.

second night down! woohoo! its not as hard as i thought it would be! emma is a bit upset at times but coping much better than i gave her credit for. hows it going with you nicola?

Good on you ladies! Sounds like your daughters are coping very well with growing up!